A Tour to Jodhpur – The Blue City of Rajasthan

Discloser: In our previous blog A Tour to Mount Abu! we explored places to visit in Mount Abu. Similarly, we are going to explore some exciting places in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan India.

The journey from Mount Abu to Jodhpur

The exploration of Rajasthan India continues, Oct 2nd, 2019 our next destination the Blue City of Rajasthan India – Jodhpur. The estimated travel time is 4hr:58 min (266 km) from Mount Abu to Jodhpur Via Nh-27, Nh-62 by bus. Although, we were excited about our travel. There were some last-minute changes in our bookings, as we spent more than the expected time in our day tour at Mount Abu. The travel agent had to reschedule our bus. Being the last bus for the day, the agent specifically advised us to be on time at the boarding point. So we rushed to our hotel rooms, finished our dinner, and got the baggage prepared. Finally, we were on time at the boarding point. As the bus started we said our Goodbyes to Mount Abu City and their people.

Jodhpur the Blue City

We arrived at Jodhpur Station around 4:30 am in the morning. With the help of local transport, we reached our hotel (It is advised to book a hotel near the station area if you are planning to travel further places in Rajasthan). As soon as we arrived at the hotel, our IDs were verified (Please Carry Government-certified ID like Pan card or Aadhaar Card when you travel) and then the service guy escorted us to our respective rooms. After a long journey of 5 hours, we all preferred to rest for a little while.

The Blue city Jodhpur of Rajasthan India is vividly known for its historical monuments, forts, and museums. The royal heritage of the city depicts its culture and various tradition. Below mentioned are the five most visited places in Jodhpur India.

Places to visit

1. Umaid Bhawan Palace
2. Mehrangarh Fort
3. Jaswant Thada
4. Toorji Ka Jhalra
5. Ghanta Ghar

Umaid Bhawan Palace

Firstly, we traveled to Umaid Bhawan Palace, located in Jodhpur Rajasthan – is amongst the most visited places also a center of attraction of the city. At this time, the palace is owned by the dignitary Maharaja of Jodhpur The Gaj Singh Ji (until the royal powers, privileges, and private resources were abolished by the twenty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India). Some Interesting Facts of the palace, the palace is dived into multiple sections.

1. 1. Hotel Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace – The hotel is operated by the well known Taj Group of Hotels, one of the selective venues for the big Industrialists and celebrities (The famous Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra and Hollywood Actor-singer Nick Jonas got married here in 2018).
   2. Museum – Although, some people are resistant to places like museums. I bet after visiting this one, you would change the thought of being resistant. I can’t name all the things that I got a glimpse of or the artwork done by world-famous artists back in that time, but undoubtedly I can just say one thing that it was worth a visit. Here are some clicks for you guys which I would like to share.
   3. Royal Car Collection

Mehrangarh Fort

Secondly, we trekked the Mehrangarh fort of Jodhpur, one of the largest forts of its kind. Built by Rao Jodha in 1459, who was also known for founding the beautiful and culturally rich city of Jodhpur. It was built in 1459 and makes for quite the spectacle with its thick imposing walls standing tall at 410 feet above the city skyline. At the top of the fort, needless to say, there awaits not only a breathtaking view of the entire city but also for adrenaline junkies there is a zip line that is the perfect end to your challenging and rewarding climb.

At the entrance of the fort, you need to pay a nominal entrance fee. You can hire a guide for a more personal tour experience, or avail of the guided audio headsets that provide you with all the relevant information of this fort(headsets are chargeable; also available in multiple international languages).

Taking you through the gates of history to the beautiful overview of the present-day Jodhpur city, this fort is a true delight to marvel. The fort has seven gates, two of them are called ‘Jayapol’, and ‘Fatthehpol’ also known as victory gate, were constructed to mark the victories of Maharaja Man Singh and Maharaja Ajit Singhji.

The fort is a brilliant display of the heritage, culture, and intricate architecture of that era (Please make sure you carry enough fluids as your body might get dehydrated while exploring the fort).

Jaswant Thada

Thirdly, we visited Jaswant Thada as shown in the above image the white marble building situated close to the Mehrangarh fort is named after Maharaja Jaswant Singh. It should be noted that this monument is built in honor of  Maharaja Jaswant Singh by his Maharani. Although, we are aware of the Taj Mahal in Agra, which is a symbol of love and honor. Similarly, this monument also showcases similar emotions. Visiting such places makes you fall in love with its beauty and surroundings. Here are some clicks for you all.

Toorji Ka Jhalra

Fourthly, Toorji ka Jhalra also known as Toorji’s stepwell a hidden gem of Jodhpur built by Rani Tawarji. Although, it is not advertised well unlike other places in the city by people. So you will find very few tourists in this place. Nevertheless, the best part of this place is that you will find a lot of restaurants and cafes here, along with sightseeing you can also enjoy the food at the same time.

Ghanta Ghar

Finally, coming to the last spot of our tour -‘Ghanta Ghar’ (Clock tower), that was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh. It is located in the center of Sardar Bazaar (Sardar Market) named after the Maharaja and is very popular among the local folk of Rajasthan. You can find just about everything in this market. You also get to see traditional textiles and handicraft goods in the region.

Adios Jodhpur

Finally, the exploration ends here for the Blue city – Jodhpur, Rajasthan India. Please share your bit of experience being here and mention your favorite place in the comment section below. Stay tuned and updated for upcoming blogs in the travel section. Last but not least, travel safely and be an explorer.